The Clippers have signed 34-year old forward Kenyon Martin to a 1-year deal.  Martin played in 48 games (all starts) for the Nuggets last year and he averaged 25.7 minutes, 8.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3  assists per game.  He has now played in 654 games (641 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 32.1 minutes, 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  This was a good signing for the Clippers as Martin will be their top backup big when he’s cleared to play.

The Clippers have released 23-year old undrafted rookie point guard Courtney Fortson.  Fortson played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 11.5 minutes, 4.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  Fortson was buried on the depth chart after the return of Chris Paul, so the Clippers essentially did him a favor by letting him go as he will likely hook up with another team soon.

The Clipppers have signed 27-year old PF/C Solomon Jones.  Jones played in 39 games (0 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 13.5 minutes, 3.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  He has now played in 247 games (10 starts) in his first five years in the NBA and he is averaging 10.9 minutes, 3.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  The Clippers need help up front as some of their big guys are a little dinged up right now.

The Clippers have signed 31-year old power forward Reggie Evans to a 1-year, $1.3 million dollar deal.  Evans played in 30 games (18 starts) for the Raptors last year and he averaged 26.6 minutes, 4.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  He has now played in 572 games (289 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 19.5 minutes, 4.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  Evans will give the Clippers another relentless rebounder, as he will be a perfect fit off the bench!

The Clippers have acquired 26-year old point guard Chris Paul and two future 2nd round picks from the Hornets for 22-year old shooting guard Eric Gordon, 29-year old center Chris Kaman, 21-year old small forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the Timberwolves’ first round pick in 2012.  Chris Paul played in 80 games (all starts) for the Hornets last year and he averaged 36.0 minutes, 15.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game.  Paul has now played in 425 games (all starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 37.1 minutes, 18.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game.  Paul will make all of his teammates better.  He has also opted in on his contract for 2012-13 to guarantee that he will be with the Clippers for two years.

Eric Gordon played in 56 games (all starts) for the Clippers last year and he averaged 37.7 minutes, 22.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  He played in 196 games (181 starts) in his three years with the Clippers and he averaged 35.8 minutes, 18.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  Chris Kaman played in 32 games (15 starts) for the Clippers last year and he averaged 26.2 minutes, 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game.  He played in 493 games (425 starts) for the Clippers in his 8 years with the team and he averaged 29.7 minutes, 11.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.  Kaman finishes his career with the Clippers #5 in games played (493), #2 in rebounds (3,018), #3 in blocked shots (707) and #9 in points scored (5,813).  Al-Farouq Aminu played in 81 games (14 starts) as a rookie for the Clippers last year and he averaged 17.9 minutes, 5.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  He does have a nice upside.

The Clippers gave up a lot to get Chris Paul, but they could be better than the Lakers this year.  That’s because they will have a starting lineup of Chris Paul at point guard, Chauncey Billups at shooting guard, Caron Butler at small forward, Blake Griffin at power forward and DeAndre Jordan at center…..that is an impressive starting unit!

The Clippers have matched the 4-year, $43 million dollar offer sheet that the Golden State Warriors gave to 23-year old center DeAndre Jordan.  Jordan played in 80 games (66 starts) for the Clippers last year and he averaged 25.6 minutes, 7.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 203 games (91 starts) in his first three years with the Clippers and he is averaging 19.5 minutes, 5.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game.  Jordan is likely going to bump Chris Kaman to the bench or out of town (in a trade) this year.

The Clippers have waived 28-year old forward Craig Smith.  Smith played in 48 games for the Clippers last year and he averaged 12.2 minutes, 5.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  He has now played in 356 games (49 starts) in his first five years in the NBA and he is averaging 17.9 minutes, 8.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  The Clippers might miss Smith a little bit as he is a very solid bench player.

The Clippers have waived 28-year old power forward Ike Diogu.  Diogu played in 36 games (0 starts) for the Clippers last year and he averaged 13.1 minutes, 5.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.  He has now played in 223 games (18 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 12.5 minutes, 6.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  The Clippers needed Diogu’s money to help pay for Caron Butler.

The Los Angeles Clippers have signed 31-year old small forward Caron Butler to a 3-year, $24 million dollar deal.  Butler played in 29 games (all starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 29.9 minutes, 15.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  He has now played in 589 games (556 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 36.3 minutes, 16.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.  Butler is a solid team player and he should fit in great with the Clippers.

30-year old small forward  Brian Cook has opted to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011-12 as he has exercised his option.  Cook played in 40 games (0 starts) for the Clippers last year and he averaged 11.2 minutes, 4.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  He also shot 43% from three-point range last year for the Clippers.  Cook has now played in 389 games (74 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 13.8 minutes, 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.